New guage cluster install:suggestions needed

[Bullett]

I have bought a new guage panel and guage set to install into my 62' SWB fleet side.
O.k., to get to the painful point, not really sure how to wire up the gauges. And also, there are some very small colored light bulbs that I am not sure of their function

Each guage has 3 posts on the back side, 1 being the ground post, 1 being the sending unit post, 1 being the ignition terminal post. O.k., as far as the ground, is it o.k. To run a new ground wire from somewhere handy on the frame to 1 of the gauges and then just loop from guage to guage? As far as ignition terminal post, where is a good place to pick up power for this post? And also, can you loop from guage to guage? As far as the sending unit post, is there only 1 wire that goes to each sending unit? I took a pic of the sending unit I have now, on my fuel tank sender, there is 1 wire that goes to the fuse block:
Underneath this wire connection, there looks to have been another wire connection that went somewhere, what would that connection have been for?
Next question: all the gauges have a light connection terminal, where do you get the power for these?
Also, there a several very small colored light bulbs that came with the kit, where do they go? It says nothing about them in the manual.
Next question, what should I do with all the old wires and light bulbs that went to the factory dash?
I know, lots of probably stupid questions but I want to do this once and do it right and am sure that you folks could save me a ton of time and headache. Wiring has just always been my Achilles heal. Thanks for any info.

[gmcdeadhead]

the three small bulbs are the blinker lights and the high beam light . look at the 3 extra holes in the dash.

[Bullett]

Originally Posted by gmcdeadhead

the three small bulbs are the blinker lights and the high beam light . look at the 3 extra holes in the dash.

Geesh, that makes sense. My current blinker lights are actually on the blinker switch assembly itself. I don't believe there are any blinker indications on the old dash panel but I will take a look. I bought the truck in December and had it shipped cross country so I haven't even driven it yet. Thanks.

[chevy_mike]

Red LED is for high beams (spot above speedo). The green LED's are for the left and right turn signals (area above the pair of smaller gauges). Looks like they sent two sets of them, instead of one set.

As for your stock wiring, for the lighting, turn signals and high beam, you will need to cut off the old lights and wire them to the new ones. You will take and ground all of the gauges and those three LED's (black wires on them). Then you can connect the part that had the old light sockets and connect them to the appropriate light on the new gauge panel. On the gauges, you will wan to find a switched +12 volt source to connect to the + side on the gauges. All of the - spots go to a good ground (same as your lights is fine). Then you will want to hook the S terminal on the gauge to the appropriate sending unit (water, oil, fuel). Volt meter will just take it's reading from the switched +12 source.

One thing to note, it is likely your fuel gauge is not matching the factory sender. The factory sender is 0-30 OHM's and your gauge is likely 0-90 or even 100-240 OHM's. You don't commonly find aftermarket fuel gauges that work with the earlier 0-30 range. That could be an issue and not able to use that gauge without somehow using the replacement sending unit, which is not a drop in replacement.

Not sure if that helps but that's what I know having done a few of these over the years.

[Bullett]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

Red LED is for high beams (spot above speedo). The green LED's are for the left and right turn signals (area above the pair of smaller gauges). Looks like they sent two sets of them, instead of one set.

As for your stock wiring, for the lighting, turn signals and high beam, you will need to cut off the old lights and wire them to the new ones. You will take and ground all of the gauges and those three LED's (black wires on them). Then you can connect the part that had the old light sockets and connect them to the appropriate light on the new gauge panel. On the gauges, you will wan to find a switched +12 volt source to connect to the + side on the gauges. All of the - spots go to a good ground (same as your lights is fine). Then you will want to hook the S terminal on the gauge to the appropriate sending unit (water, oil, fuel). Volt meter will just take it's reading from the switched +12 source.

One thing to note, it is likely your fuel gauge is not matching the factory sender. The factory sender is 0-30 OHM's and your gauge is likely 0-90 or even 100-240 OHM's. You don't commonly find aftermarket fuel gauges that work with the earlier 0-30 range. That could be an issue and not able to use that gauge without somehow using the replacement sending unit, which is not a drop in replacement.

Not sure if that helps but that's what I know having done a few of these over the years.

Awesome, this clarifies for me. When I ordered the gauges, the seller asked me if I was using the stock fuel sending unit, so the guage is supposed to be calibrated for it. Doesn't sound like this should be to difficult, I will give it a whirl this weekend. Thanks a bunch....Bullett

[Bullett]

The guage cluster and new paint and install of rear fender wells and the ole' girl will be pretty much done, at least for this summer. Just a few pics I took this week. The bed wood was done on a budget. I had about $70 in the wood (pine) and stain and the stainless strips were something that came with the truck so I re used them. Not your conventional strips that most use but I kind of like the look.

[jtrichard]

a 62 only has one turn indicator for both left and right ....you can go into the turn signal wires that go to the hood and pick up both left and right ... don't use the wires that go to the rear as your indicator lights will both come on when you hit the brakes

[Bullett]

Originally Posted by jtrichard

a 62 only has one turn indicator for both left and right ....you can go into the turn signal wires that go to the hood and pick up both left and right ... don't use the wires that go to the rear as your indicator lights will both come on when you hit the brakes

Great idea, sounds easy enough. This should be a piece of cake. Thanks to all.

[chevy_mike]

Ah, learned something new. Never thought they only had one turn signal light.

[63burban]

My 62 Suburban has two indicators in the dash.
Probably a good idea to go online and buy a book on how to wire your Hot Rod . They are relatively cheap.

[66chevy43]

Talk about lighting response to help out! Some members are too fast for us slow ones to even read the post. Haahaa Be sure to post some pics after you get your dash gauges fire up and working.

[Bullett]

Originally Posted by 66chevy43

Talk about lighting response to help out! Some members are too fast for us slow ones to even read the post. Haahaa Be sure to post some pics after you get your dash gauges fire up and working.

Ya, this site is friggin awesome, this is a great learning tool for some of us, it is much easier for me to learn from knowledgable people rather than try to read it out of a manual....